Sparks Fly [Book Two in the "Fire And Lighting" Series]

Chapter Nine- All You Need Is Love

"Where are we going?" I ask Batman, playing with my cape like the little nine-year-old I am.

My Finch costume is almost completely yellow, except for my boots, belt, and the triangular-shaped collar connected to the top of my cape, which are all black. Richard walks next to me, wearing his red, yellow, and black Robin costume. Kid Flash and Speedy follow behind us with their mentors and my brother and I follow Batman, like an obedient herd of sheep.

I was hoping to meet Hawkwoman, but she's up on a space mission with Hawkman, Superman, and Martian Manhunter, So Flash tells me, crushing my childhood dreams and earning the classic "Bat-glare" from my adoptive father.

We're at the beach, walking along the sand. Finally, Batman stops. And so we all stop. The waves crash against the shore, and I laugh as I hear the clicking of dolphins. Speedy, with his archer's eye, spots the dolphins out at sea, joined by two humanoid figures.

Suddenly, Aquaman is standing on the shore in front of us. It is so surprising that I shriek and hide behind Batman's cape, earning teasing from Wally and Richard. Aquaman, Batman, Flash, and Green Arrow exchange greetings, and then the attention is diverted back to us kids.

I notice some dark form hiding behind Aquaman's legs, and my curiosity is intensified, though I still keep my safe spot behind Batman.

"Who's that?" Wally asks rudely. Aquaman looks behind himself, and I'm slightly surprised to see the the dark figure is a boy!

He's not much older than Wally, he has dark skin and bright blonde hair, wears a red shirt and black pants with the Aquaman symbol on his belt, has bare feet, and barely visible webbing between his fingers.

"Robin, Finch, Kid Flash, and Speedy, I would like to introduce my apprentice, Aqualad. He is from Atlantis, and I hope the four of you will help him get accustomed to the surface world."

From Atlantis! Now I was definitely curious. I poke my whole head out from behind Batman instead of just my masked eye. Robin and Kid Flash are both immediately taken by Aqualad, but Speedy hangs back, though he gave a comforting smile to Aqualad.

"I'm Kid Flash, but you can call me Wally! I can go super fast!" KF states proudly, "This is Robin, and this is Speedy!"  He says, zooming between the two to show off his speed.

"Hello. You may call me Kaldur'ahm, or Kaldur, as it may be easier for you to say." Aqualad says shyly, rubbing his arm uncertainly.

"Do you have any powers?" Robin asks, curious as ever.

Kaldur is too nervous to answer. Robin makes the connection, and grins, "Don't worry, Kaldur, there's someone here who's just as shy as you!" I realize who he's talking about too late, as Robin and Wally grab my arm and pull me forward to meet Aqualad.

"Kaldur, this is my sister, Finch!" Robin beams at the new guy.

THAT is how I met the boy who changed my life.

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February 13, 2016. 21:45.

Bludhaven.

~~Emma~~

I flew through the air, making a beeline for Gotham. I lost all my strength just across the river, in Bludhaven, and landed (actually, crashed) on top of an office building to rest and just be a mess for a while.

"No," I scolded myself as I lay in the gravel on the roof, "You told yourself you weren't going to cry. You said you were over it!" I sobbed through my gloved hands.